The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Charliek, you have a gorgeous car, and this may not be for you and wanting to be 'correct' and all. But this is what I used on my tube headers, They have the cast iron grey colour and it withstands high temps without flaking, peeling, rust ect.. http://www.jet-hot.com/colorchart.html I used the stirling silver colour/thermal barrier inside coating too

Thanks you guys for all your comments. If I can just get this thing back together in my life time.

Those factory manifold/headers look pretty cool Charlie. I'm thinking about looking for a set. Seriously.

That's amazing Drew they have a coating now to withstand the heat at that point in the exhaust. Must be some Hi tech stuff.

It was interesting to read how the T/A heads in factory cast didn't flow any better then the X heads. Why wouldn't the factory finish them a little closer to the ultimate potential the racers ported them to.? maybe drivability?

Take your time Charlie with the install. Don't rush things as that can lead to unsatisfactory results. I remember many nights working late to get back on the streets and I usually regretted the hast. Just my 2 cents.

i dont have a clue about correctness,i just paint it black,and if im not sure i get on this site and ask dave that engine looks sweet to me,when we were kids building model car kits my brothers would get all worked up about small details,and i would reply "build it and move on",that engine is done imo and its time to start on another part on the car, again just my opinion!

Yeah Jon, The pushrod angle was more pronounced with a larger intake port and the 59 degree lifter/pushrod angle on production smallblocks made the geometry even worse. I think this was unacceptable for production. Also the larger the intake port the slower the velocity, thus low speed operation suffered. next week I'll post a pic of a small block intake port that flows 370+CFM out of a 2.220 Intake valved on a 4.200 bore modified engine. Although this particular head is 'made' for 10,000 RPM's!! I apologise Charliek on this off topic discussion, but I wanted to answer Jon's question, sorry.

Yeah sorry Charlie. (oh sh*!, did I just say that) No really, sometimes we stray off subject and the thread takes off askew. I think you did start it with the question of the X casting on your motor though.

Eddie, sounds like you are well informed with the small blocks also. The offset rocker setup seems like it would be a high maintenance item. All that force going off center doesn't seem quite right. Don't know much about porting and air flow either but it sounds interesting.

charliek wrote:Here are my exhaust manifolds. Anyone know what color they should be painted?

//Chris

nice christor you found the ad i was talking about,that stuff works!

No problem about the straying. Anyway you guys didnt stray that far. Jon., you arew right, I will take my time and try to do it right. I just stripped the trunk to repaint. I wasnt going to go that crazy but once I started I got carried away. I am away right now but when I get back I will prime and spray the trunk in the same PPG basecoat/clear coat. That clear is awesome. It lays out like glass (PPG Concept 2021). I will take some pics when its done. BTW Jon those manifolds are big $. I saw a set go on ebay for over $500, phew!